Bit of a Decathlon fanboy, but always been a bit critical of their bikes. Always been quite Euroboy and overtly XC. However I am getting a bit excited about their new CrossCountry XC500. It has the new Switch and Ride system they are launching. It comes in 29er flavour, 11 speed GX, Triple butted Al, Reba, Guides £1100 and for about £250 you can add 27+ wheel set ready to bolt on. Yesterday I saw the wheel kits and in two bags you get the wheels ready to bolt on. cassette brake rotors tyres all on. Interesting concept.
The XC900 on the other hand, looks dated in comparison. Full carbon, Eagle, Reba Crossmax £1500. Going to give the XC500 a test ride hopefully in the next week or so, one wheel set and then the other ideally.
My local decathlon has a lot of useful stuff that other big chains like evans or rven my lbs dont, specifically a torque wrench, carbon paste, tubeless tyres plugs 3 things I've struggled to find lately but decathlon had in stock at very good prices
Obstacles no longer pose a problem due to it’s front suspension according to the detailed information. I’m sold.
Decathlon is great for tents, clothes and soft stuff like this.
Like companies like Boardman and Calibre which build nice low budget bikes.
My recommendation: stay away from Decathlon bikes.
Fantastic full suspension trail bike Bossnut Evo sells for 1 k. And that's a 130/130 bike ...
How many Decathlon bikes have you owned Andreas?
I’m puzzling the relevance of the linked petshopboys video in the OP other than it happened to be a song with the same title?
My wife has a 350 quid wee hardtail from decathlon, it's quite incredible value, I can't fault it at all.
Andreas, you tend to exaggerate a little.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">" Fantastic full suspension trail bike Bossnut Evo sells for 1 k. And that’s a 130/130 bike "</span>
It's also heavy as hell and not even close to similar use as the xc500.
Strange recommendation really.
Go Outdoors by and large are doing better at bikes but they don't really do one like this. Decathlon's range is pretty flaky on the whole but I like this concept. Though, how good are the wheels going to be, if they come with all that stuff attached for this price?
How good are the wheels on the £1100 bike?, well about £530 worth.
Of course who pays RRP? so probably quite OK in reality.
Hahah
First: I like when companies try to offer "low budget bikes".
My recommendation for the Bossnut Evo: only based on "1 k budget". The XC 500 should sell for more than 1 k?
Correct: both bikes are totally different. Wasn't maybe the smartes comparison.
Did I ever own a Decathlon bike?
No.
Maybe the bikes are fine as "kids mountain bikes". But mountain bikes with Suntour XCR forks for serious mountain biking...?
(The XC 500 has a Reba 100 mm fork? O.k. - better. Biked the Reba on an hardtail for some time. This fork has close to no progression. Not possible to bike "with sag" and at the same time avoiding to overload the fork all the time. Means I had to bike with very high air pressure and no sag... Don't need an air fork then!)
O.k. - maybe the XC 500 is a design where Decathlon tried to design a new, interesting bike. Possible that I'am wrong with my general comments about Decathlon mountain bikes. But my "feeling" still: these bikes are not really entry level mountain bikes. The bikes look really outdated to me ...
On the other hand: if they start builing good bikes (let's say like a Boardman FS) in the budget segment - good for us!
My recommendation: stay away from Decathlon bikes.
I had a Decathlon/Rockrider 9.1 120mm full suspension years ago which was about £750 brand new and was a perfectly decent bike. In fact, nothing else could touch it new for the money. Very similar to todays GoOutdoors offering in terms of value and reviews at the time, plus it had a cool Yeti style rear suspension setup.
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"How good are the wheels on the £1100 bike?, well about £530 worth."
I meant the "packs" for £250 with tyres, discs and cassette.
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Has that^^ bike sold out? I can't click on any of the options...
Wheel set appears to be the same £500 RRP wheels with cassette, tyres and rotors for £250. Probably missing something...
Not sold out, yet to go to market. Not on normal decathlon site. Personally, I think it will sell well. Hence OP.
Wheel set appears to be the same £500 RRP wheels with cassette, tyres and rotors for £250. Probably missing something…
Yeah they're not Duroc Experts, thats whats missing. They are almost certainly the comp variant. In case you want to know the difference between expert and comp:
Sun Ringle SRC hub (Not the Straight Pull SRX)
Plain Gauge spokes rather than double butted
Sleeved rather than welded rim
Probably a steel F/Hub to keep the cost minimal if possible (but thats an option for the company buying to decide)
Perfectly good wheelset mind, we sell them at £150 on a complete build, and I think thats a really good price for what you're getting.
Had a Rockrider 8.1. £450 when I bought it new with a rebadged RS Tora fork and generally lighter and more bulletproof than it had a right to be. Staggering value.
Only faults were average own brand tyres and slightly dated XC geometry. Covered the ground quickly because of this and I'd have happily raced the thing.
I'm interested in the full suss but slightly put off by the manitou fork. Looks a bit noodly for a lump like me.
Anyone got any thoughts on this?!
Well I just walked out of there with tubes, helmet cleaning kit and a few other bits. Good basic no frills stuff really
I happen to own one of the cheapest mtb hardtails Decathlon sell. It cost me 220euros in Spain. I leave it over there as it worked out cheaper than either hiring a bike or transporting my own when I visit friends. Yes. it's obvious to see where they've saved money to sell at that price but all the parts used are definitely off-road mtb worthy. I was surprised how capable it actually is. The area of spain I stay in is on the edge of a national park with dusty rocky descents to rival the sort of thing you'd find in an EWS only slightly shorter/less elevation. I stuck a highroller II on the front, a slightly shorter stem and a set of grips to my preference (I take a pair of pedals over when I travel) and I ride the shit out of that bike when i'm over and it holds up fine. Going by things you've said previously on here the bike is easily capable enough for a rider of your skill level, riding style and idea of what an mtb ride entails. It doesn't even have a Suntour fork BTW. It has a decathlon own brand coil sprung fork with a pointless pre-load adjuster. it obviously doesn't have the damping of a £500(rrp) branded fork but in use it's actually fine.
@ geex:
in other words: I was wrong so with my opinion about Decathlon bikes.
Your solution with your Decathlon bike in Spain sounds great!
Cheers!
I like them for their gween wellies
Bike rode this kinda stuff fine. it's difficult to tell but there's actually a decent sized drop at the end of the rock garden above. Sorry. I've no idea how to turn the pic 90° but you probably get the idea.
